Sand cone



Aug. 213 1951 c. DRIGENKO ET Al. 2,564,963

SAND com:

- Filed June 7, 1948 K s sheets-sheet 1 I I il 5 III l? SAND CONE Filed June 7,*1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 21, 1951 c. DRIGENKO ETAI.

SAND CONE 3 Sheet-s-Sheet 5 Filed June '7, 1948 Patented Aug. 2l, 1951 SAND GONE Constantine Drigenko,

and John Degory Baron Phipps, London, England Margarets-on-Thames,

Application June 7, 1948, Serial No. 31,554 In Great Britain June 16, 1947 `5 claims. (ci. 21o- 34) The invention relates to sand cones, that is to apparatus, usually of inverted conical form, in which a suspension of sand or other granular material in water is separated from the major part of the water in which it is suspended. The suspended solid, which will hereinafter be referred to as sand, collects in the cone and is continuously or periodically discharged through a valve at the bottom, while the excess water overflows continuously from the top.

The invention is directed to what may be regarded as means for opening the valve when a `predetermined quantity of sand has collected in the cone and for closing the valve again after discharge. Generally, however, in this kind of separator the valve, instead of opening and lclosing in alternation, tends to stabilise itself in a position giving a continuous discharge at a rate governed by the rate of input of the suspension. The subsequent description will be based on the idea of alternate opening and closing, but the effect of continuous operation will be clear therefrom.

According to the invention a sand cone has a discharge valve for dewatered sand, and overow for the water removed, a member within the cone having a lower edge past which some of the water can flow from the inlet to the overnow, means whereby when the said flow is checked by the rise of sand to the lower edge the water level rises in a tank or like vessel, and means by which the discharge valve is moved in the opening direction in response to the increased weight of they tank or like vessel and vice versa.

In most cones for the purpose mentioned the Whole cone was suspended and moved downwards to open the valve when a predetermined weight of sand had accumulated therein. The present invention makes it possible to dispense with the heavy counterweights necessary for such cones, and it simplifies the attachement of the sand icone to its supporting tower as well as the connections between the cone -and its inlet and outlet pipes or umes. It has also been proposed to open the valve by means of a oat acted on by a rise in water level due to the blocking by the sand of an open-bottomed cone into which the suspension was fed. 'I'he present invention makes direct use of gravity and requires no float, thereby providing a simpler and more robust construction.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of a sand Gene in 2W- c and water to swirl on entering.

2 cordance with the invention, mostly in section on the centre line,

VFigure 2 is a part plan of the body of the same to show the tangential inlet.

Figure 3 is an elevation similar to Figure 1 of and alternative form of sand cone,

Figure 4 is a plan of the same, and

Figure 5 is an inverted plan of the regulator for the water outlet taken in section on the line V-V of Figure 3.

Referring rst to Figures 1 and 2, the main structure'of the sand cone externally comprises a conical portion I apex downwards, a cylindrical portion 2 on the upturned base thereof, and another :cylindrical portion 3 on the portion 2 and of the same diameter. The portion 2 is provided with feet 4, 4 for mounting on a supporting structure (not shown). A trunco-conical member 5 open at top and bottom is suspended inside the portions 2 and 3 by four straps S, 6.

,This member may conveniently be termed a control cone. The lower (smaller) end of the control cone 5 projects a short distance into the portion I of the cone, while its upper end is nearly as large as the portion 3 of the cone and terminates in an adjustable weir plate 1, by which the effective height of thin edge can be varied.

An annular plate 8 is welded around the control cone 5 and is tightly bolted between the portions 2 and 3 of the cone. The spaces above and below the plate 8 are thereby sealed from each other and only communicate by a devious route, as will appear subsequently. A tangential inlet 9 (see Figure 2) is provided just below the plate 8 and causes the suspension of sand The space above the plate serves as a launder to collect the water overflowing the weir "I, which is removed through a pipe connection IIl.

The lower end of the conical portion I is formed as a separate renewable casting II with a conical valve seat, on to which a rubber valve I2 is drawn upwards by a central vertical rod I3 by mechanism to be described later. A hood I4 with lateral aperture I5 localises the sand discharge from the valve I2, which might otherwise spray in all directions.

In order that the functions of the various parts yet to be described may be understood, it may be stated here that the suspension of sand and water is fed in at 9; the sand falls into the conical portion I to be discharged by the valve I2, and the water rises inside the control cone 5, overiiowing at 1 and passing out by the pipe connection I0.

The rod i3 is suspended by a knife edge on a lever i6 pivoted by a solid rubber bearing I'! in a block I8, which is supported on two channel irons i9, le spanning the portion 3. The lever carries:at itsrightfhand endinetheposition shown in Figureil) a'water tankZiiiconn'ected by a iiexible hose 2i to the space below the plate 3. To counterbalance the weight of the Val-ve i2 and the pressure of the sand and water acting on it, including the weight of the rod I3 and that of the water tank 20 andpartof-itscontents a weight box 22 is suspendedby a:rod23;onthe left hand end of the lever I6 by a solid rubber bearing 24. The rod 23 has a shackle 25 forlength adjustment and is guided in a bracket'ZB attached to one of the feet 4 and a bracket 2 attached to the supporting structure. The upward :pull by the rod i3 on the valvel2 is adjusted by inserting .a suitableinumber off'weights i-n'-the=box`22.

A horizontal plate 28 is mountediinftheconi- 5 cal portion l 'by straps-29,129Ytopreventgthe-sand from froming a vortex, through which water might otherwisebe discharged from the Avalve i2. A pipe 3d open atfbothfends,surrounds the rod I3 and servesftobreakfany vacuum below ythe plate 8. A row-.of holes 3| is .provided Pin-rthe `control conea little belowvthe .level of the plate 8.

-In operation the .weights `in the box 2.2 lare V.adjusted to Ygive a certain .upward pull .on .the 'fvalve lf2 when-,thesandiisnot upto the bottom edge of theicontrolfconet. Whenthe accumulated sandreaches thislev,el,..the-pressure .of .the

Vincoming suspension drives water upthe 4hose-2l .into the ,.vtankfZ, ,-which overcomes I. the .efieotof .the weightibox 22 :andcauses the .valve i2..to open and discharge sand. .Without .theholes 3l,

#3| asudden access of `water into wthe .tank ,20

-would .cause anioverflow and .perh-apsdamage thefcone. Neverthelessthe holes haveY too .small afcombinedfarea to4 prevent thewaterzfrom .rising v,into vthe .tanki2'3,.when the .su spension is..fed in vat the normalrate.

The rubber bearings. l1-.and.'24..provide1a cer- Y .tain .damping in the i movements .of the. lever Y I 6 and associated parts, and as a result the valve l2 `isheldsteadyata degreenf opening which will just `balance .the lfeed, keeping the top v.surface of thesandat the level of ytheloweriedgeof ,the control cone 5.

,In Vvthe Ydrawing ,the control cone .5 has ,been shown withra-plain edge `on the'le'ft hand half, .but in some-.cases it maylbefound desirableto make the edge.serrated,.as1shown on the right hand half.

Thecone.just described is suitableifor many cases, but where asmaller and cheaper construction is required for'the same output, a modified form of construction "shownin Figures l3, 4 and 5 is preferable.

The conical portionlwith`I its lowerfend Ilfare as previously describedfas also a-rethel-valve f2, valve rod |3,lever-i`e` with itsfsupportsand .bearings, tank 2t, Yweight'box '22iandfsuspension rod l'23 with its shackleL and guides. 'The upper por- 'tion .32 of the cone iscylindrical with a volute 33 near its lower end forv thei` incoming feed. 'The fportionf32 is closed at'thetopfby -aY plate :"Slihav- Ting a central hole,y aroun'dthe; periphery. of-which isiixed a control cone 35: extending downwards yinside the cone lwhichlhas its upper:.part.cylin 'idrical and its .lower partlconcaldivergingsfdown- `wards.

4 By means of an upstanding wall on the plate 34 and on an extension 34a thereof overhanging the edge of the portion 32 a launder 36 is formed of rectangular shape in plan with rounded ends. One end is concentric with the cone l, 32 and the control cone 35, and the other (overhanging) fend has va vertical pipe connection 3l Vattached tothe under. side of =theplate ,'Sfia for removal of the water discharge. The walls of the launder '.,3-6 are continued to the right as gusset plates 38, 38 to stiften the plate 34.

The control cone 35 has a row of holes 39, 39 :near the vtop-for .the discharge of water from Ythe-space :underthe plate 34 to the launder 35. These holes should have a total area more than .Suflicient .toppassthe maximum quantity of water '.disch'arged. The'effective area may be regulated by means o'f a ring te (see also Figure 5) having .corresponding holes il and mounted close inside the 'upper part of the control cone 35. The ring `lil :is suspended `diy. .a,.vertical.arn1 A2 .with horizontalendf .resting on a iiange. which spans .thegusset .plates 35,38. The .end hasinit lan elongated hole Abywhichit vcan be Vbolted `to vthe riiange ...M :in any .position from .that in which thehole'si and il .are in register ,tothat Ain .whichtheyfare completely closed.

y The hose.2i ,isconnecte'd rto a pipe spigot i6 .projectingnpwards Ythroughthe plate The pipe spigoti shouldbeasnear .the .centre as possible to .obviate any .increase .of vhead in the Ntank 2(idue.to.centriugal ,actionof the whirling suspension. `Theplate 2,3;is'inthepresent case suspended onthe .pipe ,3-i,'.being welded thereto through the xnediumof gussetplates flflif. The control .coneiiihasas before a row ,.o'f'holes 3i below the levelrof the v-olute'fi. .In the present igure there .are-iour.. "The pipe'iis suspended from the top by two atplates T1113, -z'i welded thereto on edge, which. .are dropped'into vertical Yslotscutinthe side walls of the'launder It will be noted that in `'Figure 4 thepipe Se is hidden bythe parts at the top of the rod i3.

.In the construction of Figures Banda thewater rises against theforce ,ofgravity as in Figures .1 .and 2., but in contrast thereto it `iioivs inwards with increasing angular velocity against centrifugal forceto acentral outlet.in theplate Elfi, for which reasonitis proposed tov call this form..a vortexcone The grains of sand are thrown outwards-by centrifugal action and are drawn downwards .bygravity This .doubleaction makes possible aconsiderable reduction .in the diam- -eter vof the ,cone,..the,one actuallyE described being 4 to 5 ft. in diameter to handle up to .18,000gal- `lons .(British) of Vwater pius20 to 30tons. of sand per hour.

In either. form of construction the holes 3i (and `A3&l`in the second formyshould have a total area suchas to causearise of ywater level in the hose .-Zl and Atank-Zilrsuiiicient to openthevalve i2. If the Yvalve .I.2.,does not immediately open -when the sandrreaches the lower-edge of thecontrol cone, the Weir v'l'.should beraised or theringlm should Ybe turned'to1close the holes a little, until the valve |2;.opens `fully. The sand will'then dis- Ycharge.untiLitis approximately level with the `lowerfedge,whereupon the valve I-2"is brought into asteady statewior" opening v`with possibly .a

few oscillations of .diminishing amplitude.

The quantity of'water rising inside the control cone 35 fromthe holesi in the second'form of constructionv mayl convenientlytbe. about one fifth of the total water passingout into the launder 36. .f llheiupwardfvelocity. maythen .be low enough to leave behind all grains above 100 mesh. The otherwise useless centre space is thereby made use of, though the bulk of the dewatering (say four fifths) is carried out by the space surrounding the control cone.

Some further constructional features may be mentioned which do not affect the principles upon which the invention is based but conduce to greater convenience in operation.

The rst relates only to the second form of construction. The outside wearing plate 49 and the bottom wearing plate 50 of the volute 33 are welded together but not to the other parts, as may be seen from the weld marks in Figure 3. These plates can therefore easily be renewed when worn, or they may be lined with rubber. During the interchange the weight of the empty portion I of the cone can be taken by the valve I2.

The other features are common to both forms of construction. Nuts and lock nuts 5I, 5I are provided on the rod 23 to cooperate with the bracket 26 in limiting the up and down movement of the weight box 22 and thereby also of the valve I2. When the nuts are properly adjusted, the valve I2 cannot be drawn too tightly against the seating on I I when the cone is empty. Wear of the valve I2 may be taken up by adjusting the length of the rod 23 between its supporting bearing 24 and the bracket 25. The shackle 25 is provided for this purpose. The tube 30 serves not only to break any vacuum which might form under the plate 28, but also as a reservoir for a small amount of lubricating water to assist the discharge of sand when the valve I2 opens after having been completely closed.

What we claim is:

1. A sand cone comprising an outer casing, a discharge valve at the bottomof the casing for dewatered sand, a control cone within the casing open at its upper and lower ends, a plate attached to the outer casing and to the outside. of the control cone whereby the spaces above and below the plate have no communication with each other outside the control cone, tangential inlet means to the space below the plate but above the lower end of the control cone for the suspension to be dewatered, outlet means above the plate for water overowing the upper end of the control cone, and means responsive to an increase of pressure at the inlet means for opening the discharge valve.

2. A sand cone comprising an outer casing, a discharge valve at the bottom of the casing for dewatered sand, a control cone within the casing open at its lower end, a plate closing the top of the casing and having an aperture at which the control cone is attached, tangential inlet means to the casing above the lower end of the control cone, an overow launder on top of the casing to receive water rising inside the control cone and discharge it, holes near the top of the control cone to pass water to the overflow and means responsive to an increase of pressure at the inlet means for opening the discharge valve.

3. A sand cone in accordance with claim 2 in which Ian adjustment device is provided whereby the eiective area of the holes near the top of the control cone can be varied.

4. A sand cone comprising an outer casing, a discharge valve at the bottom of the casing for dewatered sand, a control cone within the casing open at its upper and lower ends, a plateattached to the outer casing and to the outside of the con trol cone whereby the spaces above and below the plate have no communication with each other outside the control cone, tangential inlet means to the space below the plate but above the lower end of the control cone for the suspension to be dewatered, outlet means above the plate for water overowing the upper end of the control cone. a water tank in communication with the space below the plate so located that water rises therein when the iiow of water past the lower end of the control cone is checked by the rise of sand to the said lower end, and a normally balanced lever supporting the water tank and the movable part of the discharge valve whereby the said movable part is moved in the opening direction in responso to an increase in weight of the tank and in the closing direction in response to a reduction in weight of the tank.

5. A sand cone comprising an outer casing, a discharge valve at the bottom of the casing for dewatered sand, a control cone within the casing open at its lower end, a plate closing the top of the casing and having an aperture at which the control cone is attached, tangential inlet means to the casing above the lower end of the control cone, an overflow launder on top of the casing in communication with the interior of the control cone above the lower edge thereof to receive water rising inside the control cone and discharge it, holes near the top of the control cone to pass water to the overflow, a water tank in communication with the space below the plate so located that water rises therein when the ow of water past the lower end of the control cone is checked by the rise of sand to the said lower end, and a normally balanced lever supporting the water tank and the movable part of the discharge val-ve whereby the said movable part is moved in the opening direction in response to an increase in weight of the tank and in the closing direction in response to a reduction in weight of the tank.

CONSTANTINE DRIGENKO. JOHN DEGORY BARON PHIPPS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,147,356 Allen July 20, 1915 1,258,100 Dull Mar. 5, 1918 1,326,908 Boyland Jan. 6, 1920 1,350,204 Allen Aug. 17, 1920 1,447,610 Allen Mar. 6, 1923 2,379,753 Sebald July 3, 1945 

